Pinstripe Bowl pregame press conference recap

By Michael Daniello / 12/27/2017

Two schools, a combined 1,200 miles away from Yankee Stadium, were brought together for the 2017 New Era Pinstripe Bowl. But it's not just a college football bowl game that these two teams get to partake in; it's the whole holiday tradition in New York. They spend the week leading up to the big game exploring New York City together during the holiday season.

From ringing in the New York Stock Exchange to touring the Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and Rockefeller Center, the teams get to visit some of the biggest sights in the world. "This has been a tremendous experience for our young men. To be able to experience a bowl game and to have a postseason opportunity in New York City during this time of year was eye-opening," Boston College Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond said. It's the second time the Eagles have played in the Pinstripe Bowl and they're happy to be back. They're looking to end this season with their sixth win in seven games and are hoping for a better result than the 2014 last-second loss to Penn State.

It's the first Pinstripe Bowl appearance for Iowa and for many of the players, the first time in New York City. "It's wonderful to see our players so star-struck around all the sights in the greatest city in the United States and in my opinion, the world," Iowa University President Bruce Harreld said. Iowa typically doesn't travel east, only heading to Michigan State this season. The opportunity for them was rare, but they're thankful for the chance to take their talents to the East Coast.

The whole experience in New York was something the Yankees and New Era envisioned when they began this bowl game in 2010 with Syracuse and Kansas State. Adding the Pinstripe Bowl enhances the excitement of the holiday season in the City. "This game is going to continue the tradition of the Pinstripe Bowl and we're excited to have these two universities here today," Yankees president Randy Levine said. Bringing college football into Yankee Stadium, which also houses NYCFC, was something George Steinbrenner wanted when this stadium was built, according to Levine.

Iowa and Boston College are two storied schools with a combined 56 bowl appearances, but it's really a game of firsts for them. It's the first time they have met in a game, the first time visiting New York for many of the players and the first step in many life-long friendships. "It's also about the journey…and at the end of the day it's about long-time friendships," Iowa Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta said.

After a long season with tough losses and injuries, Iowa and Boston College are grateful to be playing in the eighth Pinstripe Bowl. "You can see that both teams, all the kids and all the coaches, everyone involved was just loving every inch of it, taking pictures and the big smiles," Boston College President Father William Leahy said. "That's what this is all about. The game comes and goes, but it's the lasting friendships that you make with people at this game will last forever."

No matter the result between these two evenly matched schools, they're looking forward to the experience of this year's Pinstripe Bowl.

Two schools, a combined 1,200 miles away from Yankee Stadium, were brought together for the 2017 New Era Pinstripe Bowl. But it's not just a college football bowl game that these two teams get to partake in; it's the whole holiday tradition in New York. They spend the week leading up to the big game exploring New York City together during the holiday season.

From ringing in the New York Stock Exchange to touring the Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and Rockefeller Center, the teams get to visit some of the biggest sights in the world. "This has been a tremendous experience for our young men to be able to experience a bowl game and to have a postseason opportunity in New York City during this time of year was eye-opening," Boston College Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond said. It's the second time the Eagles have played in the Pinstripe Bowl and they're happy to be back. They're looking to end this season with their sixth win in seven games and are hoping for a better result than the 2014 last-second loss to Penn State.

It's the first Pinstripe Bowl appearance for Iowa and for many of the players, the first time in New York City. "It's wonderful to see our players so start struck around all the sights in the greatest city in the United States and in my opinion, the world," Iowa University President Bruce Harreld said. Iowa typically doesn't travel east, only heading to Michigan State this season. The opportunity for them was rare, but they're thankful for the chance to take their talents to the East Coast.

The whole experience in New York was something the Yankees and New Era envisioned when they began this bowl game in 2010 with Syracuse and Kansas State. Adding the Pinstripe Bowl enhances the excitement of the holiday season in the City. "This game is going to continue the tradition of the Pinstripe Bowl and we're excited to have these two universities here today," Yankees president Randy Levine said. Bringing college football into Yankee Stadium, which also houses NYCFC, was something George Steinbrenner wanted when this stadium was built, according to Levine.

Iowa and Boston College are two storied schools with a combined 56 bowl appearances, but it's really a game of firsts for them. It's the first time they have met in a game, the first time visiting New York for many of the players and the first step in many life-long friendships. "It's also about the journey…and at the end of the day it's about long-time friendships," Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta said.

After a long season with tough losses and injuries, Iowa and Boston College are grateful to be playing in the eighth Pinstripe Bowl. "You can see that both teams, all the kids and all the coaches, everyone involved was just loving every inch of it, taking pictures and the big smiles," Boston College President Father William Leahy said. "That's what this is all about. The game comes and goes, but it's the lasting friendships that you make with people at this game that will last forever."

No matter the result between these two evenly-matched schools, they're looking forward to the experience of this year's Pinstripe Bowl.

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